No clue how to do these, missed class(sick ughhhh) and I'm trying to catch up on the example problems since we have a test in a couple weeks. If I know how to do these I can basically apply them to the rest in order to figure out how to do this. Anyways, here's the problems, big thanks in advance for the help.

Find the slope of the tangent line to the given curve at the given value of x. Find the equation of each tangent line.

1.) y = x^2 - 6x ; x = 2

2.) y = e^x ; x = 0

3.) y = ln x ; x = 1

December 10th 2006, 11:28 PM

topsquark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathamateur

Find the slope of the tangent line to the given curve at the given value of x. Find the equation of each tangent line.

1.) y = x^2 - 6x ; x = 2

y' = 2x - 6

At x = 2:
y = (2)^2 = 4

y' = 2(2) - 6 = -2

This is the slope of the tangent line, so we may write:
y = -2x + b
for the tangent line.

Now the tangent line passes through (2, 4):
4 = -2(2) + b

b = 8

Thus the tangent line at x = 2 is
y = -2x + 8

-Dan

December 10th 2006, 11:30 PM

topsquark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathamateur

Find the slope of the tangent line to the given curve at the given value of x. Find the equation of each tangent line.
2.) y = e^x ; x = 0